It's Better This Way

Ruby's POV

The woman called someone from her phone. A few minutes later, some nurses came in the room. I had somewhat calmed down. I don't need them worrying about me more. I know I need to fake being well to get out of here. I'll pretend the medication works even if it doesn't. I don't want to stay here.

The nurses took me back to my room. I was given a bit more freedom. I could actually move around now. I was brought some food. It doesn't smell very good. I hesitantly started eating it. It didn't taste that bad.

After I finished, someone knocked on my door. Yoshiko was back. I looked at her with a blank expression. Why can't she leave me alone? I need some time alone.

"Hey... um, how're you doing?" Yoshiko asked me.

"Terrible." I muttered.

"Did you see the therapist yet?" Yoshiko asked as she sat on a chair close by.

I nodded. I really don't want to talk about it. I just want to suffer by myself. I don't need her here. Honestly, I'm surprised they let her in. After all, I tried to kill her.

I guess this means she wasn't the illusion...

"What did she say?" Yoshiko questioned.

"She's putting me on medication." I mumbled.

"Oh. Well, I'm sure it'll help you a lot." Yoshiko said as positively as she could.

"Where's Kanan?" I asked.

"She's still asleep. I didn't want to wake her up. She stayed up really late trying to fix up the shop." Yoshiko replied.

"I don't wanna be here." I said.

"I know you don't. But, you need help, Ruby. This is the best way for them to help you." Yoshiko tried to reason with me.

"I don't care. I don't like it here." I huffed.

"You're stuck here until you get better." Yoshiko said.

I frowned. She's against me too. She won't even try to say I should be able to go home. I'm not that messed up. I'll be fine.

Yoshiko soon left. I didn't want to talk to her. Moments after she left, I was given the medication. I sighed and took it. Let's hope I can fake it well enough. Unless it actually works. I doubt that.

I settled down to try and sleep. I want time to go by fast. I just want to get out of here.

...

I woke up later. There was someone in the room with me. It was Kanan. Looks like she finally came to visit. I wonder if anyone else is going to come and visit me? I don't think so. I'm pretty sure that no one else knows anything about this at all.

I sat up. Kanan looked at me. I looked at her with the same blank expression I had shown Yoshiko. I don't really care to see anyone today. I'd rather just be alone.

"How're you feeling?" Kanan asked.

"I'm fine." I replied.

"I'm sorry about this. It must be tough for you to have to be here like this." Kanan nodded to the restraints.

"I wanna go home." I said. Maybe Kanan will be on my side?

"I bet you do. But, you need to stay here until you get better." Kanan told me.

I sighed. She's against me leaving as well. Maybe they don't actually want me to get out. Maybe they just want me to be stuck here forever and out of their lives.

"So, Yoshiko told me you're on medication now. Does it seem to be working?" Kanan asked.

I shrugged. I doubt it's been long enough for anything to work. I'll probably have to take a few doses before I can pretend. No medicine works that fast on something like this.

"I have to go. Stay strong." Kanan left me.

I laid back down on the bed. This is horrible. I wish I could just disappear. I closed my eyes. I don't know what to do. I need to do something to get out. I can't just sit here and do nothing. I need to get out.

I opened my eyes. I sat up again. I looked around the room. No one was here. It's just me. Huh? My restraints are gone. I can get up. I got off of the bed.

I wandered out into the hallway. Funny. No one's here. What's going on? I started walking down the hallway. It started getting darker the farther I walked. I pushed onward.

I came to a door. I pushed it open. Inside was a white room. Standing in the room was Dia. I ran over to her and hugged her. She hugged me back.

"It's alright, Ruby. You'll be fine." Dia whispered to me.

"I will?" I asked.

"Yes. You'll be just fine."

Dia vanished from sight. What's going on? Where is she? The room turned black. I was plunged into darkness. When the lights came back, I was now standing in a room covered in blood. I screamed. There were people in the blood. Dead people.

What's happening? What's going on? Am I going crazy?

I tried to leave the room, but the door was locked. What do I do? I need to get out of here.

"Join me..."

That sounded like Dia. What does that mean? Join her? Does that mean in death? I don't want that! I don't want to die!

A knife appeared before me. I gulped as I stared at it. I don't know what to do.

"Do it. Kill yourself and join me..."

I have to be going crazy. She would never want me to do that. I took the knife. Maybe I can use it to open the door? I jammed it into the doorknob. It didn't do anything. I need to get out.

"You can't leave. So just do it."

I tried again to get the door to open. It still wouldn't budge. I looked at the knife. I may only have one choice here. I hesitantly held the knife over my heart. I gulped. Am I really going to do this?

I guess I am. I rammed the knife through my body.

...

I woke up screaming. That... that was just a dream... oh thank god. That was a crazy dream. I blinked open my eyes as I felt someone touch me. I looked over. It was... Dia?

Am I still dreaming? I don't know. I don't think so. I can hear people outside my room. Someone entered my room. It was a nurse.

"Are you alright? We could hear you screaming." The nurse asked.

I nodded, "Just a bad dream."

"Alright." The nurse left me alone after that.

Dia was still here. She was sitting beside me. Is she real? Is she fake? I don't know. I mean, I saw her grave. She's still here despite Yoshiko stabbing her. Maybe she is fake? But, what if she isn't? What if that was just a dream? I'm so confused. I still don't know what is reality and what's not.

How am I ever going to get out of here?